Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 17, 2001 Purdue names NSF supercomputer director
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In the new position, Bottum will be responsible for planning and coordination of all computing and information systems across the university. He will report jointly to the provost and the executive vice president and treasurer.
"Jim Bottum is one of the nation's leading experts in the administration of information technology," said Robert L. Ringel, executive vice president for academic affairs. "He possesses outstanding management skills, as well as great technical knowledge. His experience as executive director of one of the five original National Science Foundation supercomputer centers will be a tremendous asset to Purdue."
Kenneth P. Burns, executive vice president and treasurer, said: "Information systems and academic computing have become fundamental to the operation of the university. We cannot be excellent in our missions of teaching, discovery and engagement unless we are a leader in this area. We believe we have found the ideal executive for this very challenging job."
Bottum's appointment is subject to approval of the Purdue Board of Trustees.
"Historically, the country has looked to Purdue for leadership in high-end computing and information technology," Bottum said. "Purdue's pioneering spirit is very attractive to me. I look forward to being part of a team that is committed to growing, improving and being on the leading edge."
Bottum will have administrative responsibility for the Purdue University Computing Center, telecommunications operations and Purdue Management Information. Together, these units encompass most of the university's academic and administrative computing services and communications. His duties will include strategic planning and coordination of information technology operations across the university system, including voice, video and data networks; and administrative, instructional and research computing services.
Bottum began his career in 1977 at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he served as a presidential management intern from 1977-1979 and program manager from 1979-1982. He was a member of the task force that developed the foundation's Supercomputer Centers Program from 1982-1984 and served as associate director of that program from 1984-1986.
As executive director, Bottum has overall strategic and operational responsibility of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The center has an annual budget of $60 million from state, federal and private sources, and employs more than 400 researchers, computer professionals and students. In addition, the center leads a consortium of research teams at more than 50 national institutions.
The NCSA has an international reputation for innovative applications in high-performance computing, visualization and desktop software. NCSA broadened the user base of remote supercomputing and the Internet by developing the cross-platform software tool NCSA Telnet in 1987. In 1992 the center developed NCSA Mosaic, the first easily available graphical Web browser that helped launch the explosive growth of the World Wide Web in the 1990s.
Bottum integrates activities between NCSA and Fortune 500 partners through its Private Sector Program. This program gives businesses the opportunity to explore new technologies and tools that can help them maintain a competitive edge in a global economy.
Bottum serves as NCSA's liaison with the University of Illinois, the National Science Foundation and the state of Illinois. He plays a key role in the continuing effort to bring new commerce to the Champaign-Urbana area and to promote technology transfer to various sectors of the community.
He joined the center in 1986 as associate director of systems and services. He served as deputy director from 1989-1999 and became executive director in 1999. While at NSF he also worked in the administration of large-scale facilities, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the Kitt Peak and Sac Peak national observatories.
Bottum earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Florida State University in 1976 and attended law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Arden Bement, head of the School of Nuclear Engineering, chaired the search committee, which was composed of faculty, staff and students. Applicants and nominees from across the country were considered.
Source: James R. Bottum, (217) 359-8167; jb@ncsa.uiuc.edu
Writer: Bob Johnson, (765) 496-7704, bobwjohnson@purdue.edu
Other sources: Robert L. Ringel, executive vice president for academic affairs, (765) 494-9709
Kenneth Burns, executive vice president and treasurer, (494)-9705
Related Web site: National Center for Supercomputing Applications
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